Arkana Spiritual Center prides itself on bringing together a highly-qualified & diverse staff
Your time with us will feel like a welcoming into a new family. All of our staff have extensive experience working with the medicines they facilitate & are extremely dedicated to this sacred work.
CHIEF DHARMA OFFICER, jose
Jose is an adventurous entrepreneur at heart and father of five, is the driving force behind Arkana’s operations and growth initiatives.
Watch video: A Message From Our Founder, Jose Saenz | Why We Created Arkana
DHARMA ENFORCER, shantanu
Shantanu was born and raised in Mexico City and left home at the age of 16 to continue his contemplative journey to learn about the path to the soul. During this time, he also studied film at a Film School in Mexico founded by Luis Buñuel in 1975. His documentary films have been shown in international film festivals in different countries. He is still very passionate about Filmmaking.
On his spiritual travels, he has had many stops along the way; such as Germany, Spain, USA, and India. He has lived in caves, Ashrams and in the mountains. He stayed for some time in India to study Yoga, and he became a Yoga Instructor in 1995.
He has offered voluntary services for 28 years in different capacities, from cooking and translating, to teaching Yoga and facilitating Yoga and Meditation Programs in prisons in USA and Mexico. Godfather to six girls, uncle to two twin girls and to dozens of his friend´s children, is also an international babysitter.
Currently, Shantanu splits his time between Arkana's both locations acting as its Dharma Enforcer, ensuring both centers operate at the highest levels of consistent service. He enjoys serving the guests by facilitating ceremonies, translating for them, teaching Yoga and the Art of Meditation on the Self.
Facilitator Coordinator, Theo
Theo was born in the USA and at the age of 2 moved to France where he lived most of his life. From an early age, he loved to draw and sing and dreamed of becoming an artist. The lack of proper training for these skills in his hometown led him to design and then carpentry. As a teenager, he lost his father to cancer and started using large amounts of cannabis and the occasional psychedelic to cope with this tragedy.
Eventually, this led to heavy drinking, and he fell into a downward spiral of street drugs, mainly heroin, and cocaine. He dropped out of all schools and ended up homeless living an unpredictable and dangerous life on the streets. During this dark episode, he witnessed a lot of violence, almost burned in an abandoned house, and was very close to overdosing a few times.
It wasn’t until the winter of 2012 that he caught a break that would forever change his life. When asked by his mother who had been recently in Peru, if he wanted to heal, Theo said yes and was given a one-way ticket to Cusco to go drink San Pedro. After a month of intense withdrawal in the heart of the Andes, a decision was made where he decided to stay indefinitely and keep working with the plants. 🌿
Plants not only healed him, but they guided him to pursue his true passion and become an artist, sharing with others this gift of healing. Currently, Theo lives a peaceful life in Urubamba alongside his wife Lucy his beautiful son Inti and their many pets. He is happy to have found Arkana, a space that values his skills, and also gives him some creative freedom to bring his experience with plant medicine, art, and integration to the format of the retreat.
MEDICAL INTAKE coordinator, rafa
Since 2013, Rafa has been working with Arkana in different capacities. Most recently, he has acted as the medical intake coordinator.
Facilitator Coordinator, Imani
Imani was born and raised in New York. She is a daughter and sister to many. Her family moved her as a teen to Florida where it changed the trajectory of her life and what she once knew. A creative at heart you will find her either drawing, writing or singing medicine songs.✨
Her call to be of service began while working in the service industry. Where she learned the qualities of being of service to others with heart yet still found there was a lack of fulfillment.
She came to Arkana in 2021 as a guest from struggling majority of her life with mental illness, depression and anxiety with remnants of ptsd from traumas in her youth. Looking for anything the medicine had to offer her so she could continue on her journey of life without sufferment.
After 7 days in the jungle she had no words for the transformation that took place which changed her outlook completely on the way she was living. Feeling completely whole with more courage to continue life without the pain that was harboring her for many year
With her own personal purpose of being of service to others joining Arkana only made sense for its similar mission of the path of transformation and healing that it provides our guests.
Her favorite thing about Arkana is the music sang by the maestros. With their icaros and medicine songs. As well as being able to witness the transformation within the guests at the end of their stay.
Imani is currently the facilitator coordinator at our Amazon Jungle location.
Facilitator, Cesar
Meet Cesar Barreau, a Pennsylvania native with an extraordinary life journey. Once upon a time, he played the role of a supervisor at East Penn Manufacturing. Then he navigated the world of financial coaching during the distressing times of Covid.
Then one day, a life-altering car accident set him on a path of self-discovery. This moment of adversity gave birth to a resolute passion within Cesar. He found his calling as a facilitator at Arkana Spiritual Retreat Center, a place where he further explored the mysteries of life.
Cesar’s life is defined by his unconditional love for his three children, and they are the driving force behind his relentless pursuit of life’s purpose. That near-death experience led him to question life’s biggest mysteries: the reason for human existence, the meaning of life, the afterlife, and how to raise children in this complex world.
With these questions in mind, he embarked on a journey of exploration and self-reflection, and he found the answers at Arkana. Early in 2020, Cesar had his first experience with Ayahuasca, which significantly shifted his life’s direction and perspectives. The experience was so profound; he discovered that healing was within his reach.
Later, he returned to Arkana for a two-week retreat in Yucatán, Mexico. There, he found further healing through Peyote and mushrooms. For the first time in his life, Cesar experienced true healing and peace through plant medicine. This inner tranquility transformed his understanding of life, providing answers to his deepest questions.
Today, Cesar is dedicated to Arkana's mission of healing one heart at a time and selflessly serving those brave enough to heal their traumas and deal with life’s paradoxes. The most fulfilling part of being a part of Arkana, is his shaman family who has kept their ancestral culture
alive, enchanting the jungle with their Icaros. The love and passion of these shamans are so pure, their presence radiates an undeniable love. Cesar’s story is a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and the healing power of love.
Facilitator, Luke
Meet Luke Schmidt, a Cincinnati native whose childhood was a vibrant tapestry of global adventures. When he was just four, his family uprooted from the United States and embarked on an exciting journey, which took them to cultural hubs like Caracas, Venezuela, Kobe, Japan, and Toronto, Canada.
Over 13 years, Luke had the chance to extensively explore South America, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia. Despite soaking in such rich culture and diversity at a young age, Luke often battled with fitting in. From a young age, he grappled with profound depression and anxiety, which led him to therapy when he was just eight years old.
Ultimately, his struggle with addiction guided him towards plant medicine, specifically drinking Ayahuasca at Arkana, a path that would change his life.
Luke’s home base is Denver, Colorado, a place he chose for his love of the outdoors. He moved there in 2014 from Orlando, Florida, after graduating high school. Skiing, golfing, and fishing are his passions, with his most cherished memories being family ski trips to Whistler, and summer fishing and golfing stints with his grandparents in Florida and Indianapolis.
Arkana has been instrumental in Luke's healing journey. He learned to let go of the burdens of past traumas and experiences, realizing that they didn't define him. As he began to unravel these layers, he discovered the world's beauty in ways he'd never imagined, reflecting his own transformation.
Choosing to be part of Arkana was driven by his belief in their mission and his desire to make a positive impact. The strength of those who journey to Arkana seeking healing amazes him. Witnessing their transformation from arrival to their final day is a magical experience for him.
Luke is passionate about Arkana’s mission to make a significant contribution to global healing. He appreciates the respect, compassion, empathy, and unconditional love extended to everyone who chooses to journey with Arkana.
Facilitator, brenda
Brenda is a multi-passionate individual with roots in both the USA and Mexico. She wears many hats as a spiritual coach, content creator, therapist-in-training, and social media manager at Arkana. Brenda first ventured to Arkana as a guest, seeking to reconnect with her authentic self, deepen her understanding of universal spiritual principles, and heal past traumas. Her objective was to be able to deepen her presence for those she serves.
During a week-long retreat at Arkana Yucatán, Brenda found more than she had hoped for. She gained a clear understanding of her soul's purpose and path and felt a calling to deepen her spiritual growth with the aid of plant medicines, all while assisting others on their similar journeys. This led her to join Arkana's facilitation program, a decision she describes as the most transformative and rewarding 9-months of her life.
Supporting guests through their healing process has enriched Brenda's sense of compassion, self-love, and love for others, opening her heart in ways she never thought possible. She believes this is the true beauty of joining Arkana: the opportunity to grow into the best version of oneself, while helping others do the same, and making a lasting impact on the world.
Brenda's time at Arkana has furnished her with invaluable life skills. From public speaking and bilingual fluency to learning to play instruments, singing, and mental resilience, she's gained a wealth of knowledge. She's also gleaned wisdom from the plants and shamans, which she now uses in her content and coaching. All these experiences have bolstered her confidence to continue pursuing her goals and dreams.
For Brenda, stepping into Arkana means joining a spiritual family. It's about working alongside a team of incredible shamans and loving staff, all committed to the shared goal of changing the world one heart at a time.